This season has been so great so far. I like the purposely unbalanced Detours of the last few legs. The casting and tasks are a big improvement from last year and back to the classic days of TAR.

Dave and Rachel are still my favorites, I like how she just blows past his constant worrying and doesn't get into a stupid breakdown. Dave needs to calm down a little and not be so uptight. They are also one of the few teams that perform well and don't fight with other teams. They were back to their super performance tonight, they would have won if not for the FF.

Art and JJ are nowhere near as bad as people think and I like the country boys a lot too.

I am surprised none of the earlier teams went for the fast forward. First, you're not sure anyone went for it, but there is a good chance. Second, you know one of the slower teams is on a later flight.

This fast forward had the opportunity to see two teams fight for it. We haven't seen two teams do that since?

I am surprised none of the earlier teams went for the fast forward. First, you're not sure anyone went for it, but there is a good chance. Second, you know one of the slower teams is on a later flight.

This fast forward had the opportunity to see two teams fight for it. We haven't seen two teams do that since?

I think the last Fast Forward to have two teams fight for it was the eating on in Kazakhstan from Season 13. I hope this means the increase in the number of them. They don't need to be extreme. Look at what the early ones were- walk to the bottom of a hill, eat two meat pies, look under some rugs, talk to a person.

I thought this was another solid episode . Santas <3 The statue beheading and the teams' reaction was hilarious! Brenchel <3 Both Rachels <3 What Art & JJ did for Mark & Bopper was so kind but I'm still not a fan of them and don't want them to win.

Next week looks entertaining! Beards, Yodeling in costume, and a witch cackling while brewing a cauldron! The scenery looked absolutely gorgeous in the preview too!

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan

I am surprised none of the earlier teams went for the fast forward. First, you're not sure anyone went for it, but there is a good chance. Second, you know one of the slower teams is on a later flight.

This fast forward had the opportunity to see two teams fight for it. We haven't seen two teams do that since?

I think the last Fast Forward to have two teams fight for it was the eating on in Kazakhstan from Season 13. I hope this means the increase in the number of them. They don't need to be extreme. Look at what the early ones were- walk to the bottom of a hill, eat two meat pies, look under some rugs, talk to a person.

Did anyone notice that Phil did NOT say there was a Speed Bump on the next leg.

True... that's unusual... But maybe they just cut it out in editing!

Yes.. they cut it out. Which sucks!

And this episode title should be Phil commenting on how he's "Phil-ing good"

In Season 17, Nick and Vicki did not receive a Speed Bump penalty after Leg 6 due to a production error earlier in the leg... Could this be similar where there is no Speed Bump?

There is a Speedbump next leg. Just that Phil did not mention. In the end, it went to a melo-dramatic moment where "Art and J.J." wanted to do good and give 5k away.

Okay, money appreciated and that was really nice. But you could have did it more discreetly like after the race or what. Instead, it became a weird moment where Art and J.J suddenly appeared to present themselves even before Phil announced that it was a NEL.

Did anyone notice that Phil did NOT say there was a Speed Bump on the next leg.

True... that's unusual... But maybe they just cut it out in editing!

Yes.. they cut it out. Which sucks!

And this episode title should be Phil commenting on how he's "Phil-ing good"

In Season 17, Nick and Vicki did not receive a Speed Bump penalty after Leg 6 due to a production error earlier in the leg... Could this be similar where there is no Speed Bump?

There is a Speedbump next leg. Just that Phil did not mention. In the end, it went to a melo-dramatic moment where "Art and J.J." wanted to do good and give 5k away.

Okay, money appreciated and that was really nice. But you could have did it more discreetly like after the race or what. Instead, it became a weird moment where Art and J.J suddenly appeared to present themselves even before Phil announced that it was a NEL.

How do you KNOW there is a Speed Bump? From my understanding it is just speculation.

I don't see what was wrong with the moment at the end. If you want to give someone 5,000 dollars you can do it however you want. The producers could have even asked them to do it on camera. I would not be surprised if that was the case because it makes good television.

The only one moving towards a good cooperation is "Angel" Vanessa and Ralph...

Dave and Rachel have a good relationship, they just relate to each other in a different way. You can tell they actually know how to work together pretty good.

@Joab that avi is freakish!

I disagree. He has been away in the Middle East. She is used to having unchallenged authority and he is too. There seems to be little indication of compromise. I must say that I like her ideas a whole lot better than his.

I don't see what was wrong with the moment at the end. If you want to give someone 5,000 dollars you can do it however you want. The producers could have even asked them to do it on camera. I would not be surprised if that was the case because it makes good television.

I think that some people are just set on hating them no matter what

I agree. That moment was TV gold, of course the producers are going to want the viewers to see it.

I think JJ & Art figured Bopper and Mark would be eliminated in Italy after the travel agent/flight mix up in Asunción.

In AR17, ep.5 Nick and Vicki tried to contest the FAST FORWARD traditional Norwegian Christmas meal but that did not work because the FAST FORWARD had already been taken. Nick and Vicki put themselves into jeopardy but survived doing the regular tasks.Modify message« Last Edit: Today at 12:09:04 PM by apskip »

Note: redskevin88 said this before me but I missed it the first time through.

I would not assume that there is a Speed Bump any more than I would have assumed as a fact that the model helicopter task was a Fast Forward.To me, it is speculation about the Speed Bump until we have express word from CBS in the promo materials, or there is a vidcap or photograph clearly showing that there is a Speed Bump.

One thing to keep in mind is that Bert and Elise are trying to keep us, and the Racers, guessing, by not doing the same things the same way any longer. We no longer have traditional clue boxes 90-plus percent of the time. We no longer have the location sign at the pit stop map. These last two seasons, Phil no longer introduces the last pit stop location at the beginning of the episode as "the pit stop for the previous leg" but as the "starting point" for the next leg. And they changing up the music at the end of the episode before the preview and closing credits with different music every leg.

In other words, the old line about Big Brother, "Expect the Unexpected" applies more and more to TAR. At least it is a concerted effort to keep things fresh without going for cheap melodrama between teams. (Racehl might be viewed as an exception, but then veteran BB watchers already know that Rachel needs to be taught some better stress management skills.)